Butter pat packaging



L. PETERS May 2, 1967 BUTTER PAT PACKAG ING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept.1, 1966 INVENTOR; LEO PETERS ATT Ys i lll May 2 1967 l.. PETERS BUTTERPAT PACKAGING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l, 1966 ms N Dn W. E N TI I EDl O E AT'Ys United States Patent 3,317,326 BUTTER PAT PACKAGING LeoPeters, 750 Plymouth Road SE., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506 Filed Sept. l,1966, Ser. No. 576,687 12 Claims. (Cl. 99-179) This application is acontinuation-impart of my copending application, Ser. No. 329,000, ledDec. 9, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to the packaging of butter pats of theindividual-service size normally served in restaurants. Such pats areusually about 11A square by 1A thick and are served to individual dinersfor a single meal. In particular, this invention relates to a method andmeans of packaging decorative-surfaced pats of butter on their ownindividual service plates so as to l) protect the decorated surfacesfrom surface-marring contacts during transportation through the channelsof trade, and (2) have the pats quickly and easily available forimmediate service at the point of end use on a dining table.

More especially, this invention relates to a paper plate with extendinghinged side flanges, and a surfacedecorated butter pat that rests withits nondecorative surface on the plate. The side flanges of said plateare upright and erect during transportation so as to provide (l) anencircling, perimetric shield, and (2) upright supports to protect thepat against the weight and pressure from above and below within theshipping case, and (3) readily-operable gates through having the sideflanges movable outward and downward so as to make the butter patreadily accessible to a diner at point of end use.

A brief review of the prior art within the butter-patty industry, as itbears on the adaptability (and/or lack of it) to the packaging ofdecorative-surfaced pats, is germane to an understanding of the reasonsfor this invention.

Within the segment of the butter industry that caters to the restauranttrade, butter patties for table service are manufactured and packaged intwo principal ways: (1) A scored slab of butter that requires breakingalong the score lines in order to separate and serve individual patties;and (2) Individual patties placed on paper plates ready for immediateserving in a restaurant.

It is this second method which is the concern of this invention, namely,the packaging of butter patties on individual serving plates.

In order to carry this second method safely through the channels oftrade, it has been the practice of the prior art (a) to place a butterpatty on a paper plate that is about one and one-half times larger thanthe square inch area of the patty so that said plate provides at least aMi perimeter extending out from the sides of said patty, then (b) toplace a parchment paper liner or cover on top of said patty to functionas a divider between the top of a patty and an adjacent patty plate.Thereafter, the plate-supported patty (c) is packed in contactingrelationship to its neighbors in a shipping case, and (d) all pattiesthus packaged are stacked in order that no accumulated stacked weight4will rest on any individual patty duringV storage or transportation.

It is the deficiencies of this second (i.e., paper-plated patty) methodof the prior art that is of concern here. This prior art method ofbutter-patty packaging has certain features that are consideredundesirable by many restaurants, an undesirableness apart from anyconsideration of decorative surfaces. For the decorated patty which isinvolved in this invention, the undesirableness of the prior art is ofsuch direct importance that the prior art methods are outright harmfuland commercially impractical. The deficiencies of the prior art fordecorative patties are especially harmful in the following two respects:

1) Parchment paper liners on top of each patty. When these liners arepeeled off, part of the butter patty frequently comes 01T with them, andthis s always true when the butter is warm. The result is that the pattyis left looking messy; any surface decorations that are on the patty areruined; and the diner is required to scrape butter from both the linerand the paper plate. It is obvious that the embossed surface decorationson patties, such as those which are the subject of this invention, wouldbe completely destroyed by this kind of packaging.

(2) The edge-stacking arrangement of the prior art (a) requires thepatties to be pressed close together in order to prevent slippage of thepat from its plate while in transit-this pressure has a tendency to thinout the patty and at the same time obliterate any design that may havebeen imprinted on its surface, and (b) requires -a packaging arrangementthat takes one and one-half times more space than would be needed if thepatties could be packed in closer relationship. Such a shippingstackingarrangement, with its constant pressures on the surfaces of the butter,is, at best, damaging to engraved (imprinted) surface designs of thekind that have been used on butter pats heretofore. For surface designsthat are embossed (upraised) such as those which are new and used withthis invention, such a shipping-stacking arrangement is fatal, renderingits use commercially impossible.

Part of the purpose, then, of this invention is to overcome thedisadvantages and deciencies in the prior art of packaging butterpatties on individual-size plates; at least insofar as such packaginginfluences the retention and/or destruction of surface decorations onthe patties. More importantly, it is the purpose of this invention toprovide a commercially practical method for packagingdecorative-surfaced butter pats on individual-size serving plates.

It is interesting to note that in the pursuit of the purposes of thisinvention three (3) new, interdependent, cooperating, commerciallyadvantageous and rather surprising results are achieved. These lare:4

(l) The stacking of layers of decorative-surfaced butter patties on topof each other in a highly compact arrangement; yet, surprisingly,without having anything touching the decorative surfaces.

2) Positive four-sided, pressurized and equalized, contact between thesides of ladjacently-positioned patty plates in a combination grouping,whereby they push against, yet support and cooperate with, each other tomaintain each side of said patty plate vertically erect; yet,surprisingly, doing `this without exerting any pressure inwardly on thebutter which, if it happened, would cause damage; or, outwardly againstanother plate which, if it happened, would cause said plate to pop out-of its cooperating position within said group and destroy the abilityof the group to protect its butter pats.

(3) A dual, self-reversing, self-contradictory role played by the paperplate whereby (a) while in transit it functions as an all-enveloping,completely protective butter patty container, with its hinged sides inrigid upright position serving as weight-supporting columns, and then,surprisingly, (b) upon removal from its shipping case, the plateautomatically drops its protective role by dropping its hingedsides andexposing the top and sides of the butter so the patty is completelyaccessible to a diners knife.

Here is patty packaging that is highly protective, with its buttercompletely non-accessible while moving in shipment through the channelsof trade, and then, surprisingly, becomes completely non-protective,with its butter highly accessible, when it reaches the end of itsjourney and is served on a dining table.

By way of summing up the contradictory nature of this surprisinginvention, it can be put this way: The subject of this invention has aprotecting )package structure at the beginning of its life, and thenautomatically, upon release from its shipping-case coniinement, changesits structure to that of a serving plate at the end of its life. Or,summing up another way: while in transit through the channels of trade,the structure of this invention functions as a highly cooperative andimportant member of a large number of butter-patty plates, and then inend use it changes its structure to function as a highly independent,individualized, butter-serving plate.

The apparent simplicity with which this invention has achieved thepreceding surprising, reversible, contradictory results is surprising initself. This has been achieved with the following simple paper platestructure:

(1) A blank of paperboard of the same base shape as a butter patty, buthaving linear dimensions slightly larger than the base of the pat plusan amount slightly in excess of the thickness of the pat;

(2) The blank being scored, creased or perforated along the four outsideedge lines at which a centered pat rests on the blank, and the cornersto the outside of the lines being scored or cut out so that the blankhas four manipulatable anges, extending beyond the periphery of acentered butter pat, which, in effect, are hinged to the main section ofthe blank along the scored lines;

(3) Preliminary flexing-of these peripheral extensions, or hingedflanges, along the score lines to reduce the bending resistance of thepaperboard in an amount that will permit said flanges to stand erect incooperation with and under equal pressure from adjacent patty plates;

(4) Raising the hinged flanges along the score lines so that theystanderect, in which position they are slightly higher than thethickness of the accompanying butter pat;

(5) Packing numerous patty plates together on a common sheet so that theplates cooperate with each other to maintain their hinged sides erect,in which position the sheet will serve as a base for one grouped layerof patty plates andas a non-touching cover for butter patties of agrouped layer immediately below whose erect hinged anges support thesheet on which the upper group rests.

In the immediately preceding description of my butterpatty plates inpacked position, the following commercially advantageous results areachieved:

(l) There is no top surface contact with or pressure on any butterpatty. Thus, any kind of surface decoration can be employed withoutdanger of damage or obliter-ation. In addition, even an undecoratedbutter pat, due to this lack of pressure on the butter, is maintained'with its original shape and thickness inviolate; there is noflattening, thinning, or spreading-out caused by package pressures.

(2) Because there is no pressure on the butter patty, no top liner incontact with the butter is needed to keep the butter from sticking tothe adjacent plate or patty, and thus no `loss of butter or decorationis possible due to the stripping olf of a liner.

(3) Practically no more storage or shipping space is yrequired than ifthe patty was not paper-plated.

(4) The compactness in shipment does not interfere with erase of use onthe dining table because the upright extensions of the plate fall downwhen the plate is removed frorn the shipping case. f

In summary, the deficiencies of the prior art are elimi nated and a newpackaging structure achieved by this invention; a packaging structurewhich makes commercially practical the transportation and sale ofdecorativesurfaced butter patties packaged on individually paper plates,and improves the commercial acceptability of nondecorative butterpatties.

It is an object of this invention to provide a commercially practicalmethod and means for both shipping and serving patties on individualpatty plates, and, in particular, decorative-surfaced butter patties.

It is another object of this invention to provide a butterpatty platewhich eliminates the need for a cover which is in contact with thebutter.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a method andmeans for shipping and serving individuially plated,decorative-surfaced, butter patties by which the decorated surfaces arenot required to touch any package surfaces.

Yet ano-ther object of this invention is to provide a paper plate for abutter patty which provides a method and means for packaging andshipping the butter patty that eliminates all weighted and/ or pressuredcontact between the butter patty and its package except the contactbetween the bottom of said patty, where it rests on the plate, and theplate.

A further object is to use the side extensions of grouped patty platesas the upright column supports for all butter patty packaged weightscarried in a large shipping container.

A yet further object is to use the hinged side anges of butter-pattyplates for -column supports which cooperate with and support each otherin maintaining erect supporting columned positions in groupings ofplated butter patties.

A still further object is to use virtually no more packing space for aplated butter patty than would be required for an identical butter pattywithout a plate.

Another object is to provide a butter-patty plate which will make thebutter patty easily and immediately accessible to a diner without theneed for removing any part of the patty-packaging components.

An overall object is to provide a butter-patty plate which will functionas a compact, space-conserving, enveloping protector for adecorative-surfaced butter patty during storage and transportation; andthen, at point of end use by a diner, reverse its protective role and,without requiring any special manipulation by the diner, have the butterpatty openly and easily accessible for the diners.

use.

The invention is explained in conjunction with an illustrativeembodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a shipping case, one of thesupporting trays partially removed to illustrate generally the practiceof the invention',

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view such as would be seenalong the sight line 2--2 applied to FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan elevational view of one of the pattycarying platesprior to use in the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective elevational view showing one patty-carryingplate positioned on a tray so as to delineate the relationship of thevarious elements of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective elevational view of a plate with the butterpatty mounted thereon;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the patty-carrying platein a subsequent stage of packaging;

FIG. 7 is a View similar to FIG. 6 but featuring cooperativepatty-carrying plates arranged in juxtaposition thereto and in dottedline to aid in the understanding of the cooperative relation utilized inthe practice of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective elevational view of a pattyequipped tray in thecondition it assumes at the time of use; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective elevational View of a patty-equippedtray featuring triangular-shaped patties.

In the illustration given, and with particular .reference to FIG. l, thenumeral 10 designates generally an outer case or carton employed fortransshipping a plurality of butter patties of the character seen inFIG. 5 wherein the patty is designated by the numeral 11. Each patty 11is supported on a plate generally designated 12, and the patty 11 isembossed as at 13, i.e., equipped with upstanding decoration. In theparticular illustration given, this takes the form of a star withce-rtain fluting disposed on the top surface 14 of the patty 11. Thepatty 11, in accordance with conventional practice, is square, i.e.,generally rectangular, and normally measures about one inch on eachside, upstanding about M1.

It will be seen from reference to FIG. l that a plurality of the plates12 are supported on a tray generally designated 15, and that the caseaccommodates a plurality of these trays 15.

An advantageous arangement of plates 12 within a given tray 15 is seenin FIG. 4, wherein 40 spaces are outlined in broken line for theaccommodation of the plates.

Each plate at the outset assumes the planar configuration seen in FIG.3, wherein the tray is equipped with a generally rectangular (in theillustration given, square) support portion 16 defined by lines ofweakness along the four sides .as at 17, 18, 19 and 20. Integral withthe support portion 16 and partially defined by the above-mentionedlines of weakness 17-20 are four flange portions as at 21, 22, 23 and24. Advantageously, the lines of weakness 17-20 may be developed byscoring or perforating as shown, to permit the flange portions 21-24 tobe moved upwardly rinto generally erect positions as at in FIG. 6. Thisdefines a five-sided cell for protecting the patty 11, notably all foursides and the bottom. The fact that the sides as at 25 in FIG. 5 areprotected can be seen from the fact that the butter patty 11 is spacedinwardly of the line of weakness 20 associated with the flange portion24 to define a perimetric space as at 26. This spacing 26 is providedrelative to all four sides of the butter patty 11.

In the practice of the invention, the flange portions 21- 24 areinitially provided coplanar with the support portion 16, as indicated inFIG. 3. This is performed, in one aspect, by employing steel dies forsimultaneously scoring and cutting 8 to l0 point paperboard (0.008-0.l0thick). Thereafter, the flange portions 21-24 are overfolded by 'beingpivoted through a vertical arc (when the support portion 16 is disposedhorizontally), with the lines of weakness 1720 serving as hinges. TheVertical arc is slightly in excess of 90, i.e., of the order to 10G-120,so as to eliminate 4a substantial portion of the resistance or iightinherent in the hinge connection between the various flange portions21-24 and the support portion 16. However, a certain inherent resiliencyremains which in time tends to return the fiange portions 21-24 toward acoplanar relationship with the support portion 16. As seen in FIG. 6,the flange portions have unfolded partway toward the coplanarrelationship with the support portions.

In this condition (as seen in FIG. 6), a plurality of the plates 12 aredisposed on the trays 15, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each tray 15, asseen in FIG. 4, also has a base or support part as at 27 and upstandingperimetric ange parts 28, 29, 30 and 31, each of which is analogouslydeveloped through lines of weakness.

The cooperative relationship between juxtaposed or adjacent plates canbe most readily appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 7 wherein thesolid line plate is again designated by the numeral 12 `and is seen tobe lianked or confined by other -trays generally designated 12a, 12b,12C and 12d. Each tray 12a-12d has its associated flange p0rtionstending to return toward a coplanar relation with the base or supportportion thereof and thus when brought into mutual engagement withadjacent plate flange porions, serve to mutually support and immobilizethe plate in place, .as can be appreciated from the contact designated32 in FIG. 2. The showing in FIG. 2 is exaggerated, since in thiscondition the flange portions as at 21 which define the lbearing 32 arevertically erect, i.e., approaching 90 relative to the base or supportportions 16. j

In like fashion, the flange parts 27-31 associated with each tray 15 arelikewise disposed substantially erect relative to the horizontallydisposed base part 27. The confinement of the upstanding parts 28-31 isachieved through the cooperation of the various fiange portions of thesupported plates 12 and the yinterior of the walls 10a, etc., of

the exterior case 10. The case 10 is seen to be advantageouslyconstructed of corrugated paperboard as .at 33, wherein the end flaps 34and 35 of the case 10 are seen in open condition. It is preferred toprovide delinite access to the ends of the case 10 (the smaller areasides) so as to facilitate tray removal as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2wherein a tray 15 is seen being removed generally horizontally and inwhich case there is a slight lessening of the bearing pressure betweenadjacent plates 12 as evidenced by the fact that the most .adjacenttrays as at 12e in FIG. 2 have moved slightly to the left, developing alesser bend in the flange part 31.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the cooperation ofadjacent trays and the plurality of plates confined and 'supportedthereon develop a plurality of cellular units such as is designated 36in FIG. 2, wherein the ange portions 21-24 provide sides of the cellularunit, the support portion 16 provides the bottom, and the undersurfaceof the tray 15 as at 27a detines the top of the cellular unit, which hasa height slightly in excess of the height of the patty 11. In otherwords, the flange portions 21-24 have a width dimension, i.e., thedimension perpendicular to the associated line of weakness, slightly inexcess of the height of the patty 11 confined thereby.

Inasmuch as the uppermost tray 15 (the one partially removed in FIGS. land 2) has no cooperating tray above a cover sheet of similar makeup tothe plate is provided as at 37. In the operation of the invention, aplurality of plates 12 and trays 15 are provided for each case 10. Theplates 12 rare overfolded along the lines of weakness 17-20 to partiallydefeat the inherent resiliency along these lines, so that the liangeportions 21-24 will normally assume the position relative to the supportportion seen in FIG. 6. Thereafter, a plurality of plates 12 (forty, inthe illustration given) are assembled on each tray 15, with the adjacentabutting flange portions of the various plates cooperating to urge eachother into a general condition such as is illustrated in FIG. 7. In theillustration given, fifteen such trays are packed within the outer case10, with the upper tray being equipped with a cover sheet as at 37. Inthis instance, the outer walls of the case, more particularly, theinterior surfaces of the outer walls 10a, serve to confine and urgetoward vertical position the various ange parts 28-31 of thevertically-arranged trays 15. l

When the case 10 is complete, the case is suitably closed with indiciaprovided thereon indicating that the case should be opened from one ofthe smaller ends t0 provide the configuration seen in FIG. 1. The casemay be t-ransshipped under refrigeration to a site of ultimate use,hotel, restaurant, or the like. When the case 10 iS opened and a trayremoved, it is seen that the inherent resiliency of the flange portions17-20 again develop the configuration of FIG, 6 and in particular when atray 15 is partially removed, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the confrontingflange portion as at 21a extends away from the vertical more than theother fiange portion, this being illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein theprojecting fiange portion 21a serves as a convenient finger tab forholding plate 12 conveniently in a position for a diner to knifeoffportions of the patty 11 for consumption. Notwithstanding thesubstantial depression of the flange portion 21a, the remaining angeportions 22a, 23a and 24a in FIG. 8 remain in a partially-erect positionso as to stabilize the support portion 16a :against iiexure and possibleloss or slippage of the patty 11. When the plate 12 of FIG. 8 ispositioned on a serving table, or the like, the ang-e portion is notdepressed as in 21a and the various flange portions will maintainsubstantially the configuration seen in FIG. 6 where there is ampleknife access portion to the patty 11 for removing an increment of thebutter patty for spreading bread, rolls, etc.

Excellent results have been obtained through providing Ibutter-pattypackaging of the character illustrated. The advantageous use of spacemakes it possible to `ship it to develop the cell 36,

a substantial weight of butter in a small volume--the interior volume ofthe case being used most efficiently, as can be appreciated from aconsideration of FIG. 2, wherein the only unused interior space isprovided as a protective perimeter for the patties 11. It will beappreciated that in FIG. 2 the adjacent flange portions 21-24 haverelaxed partially from their erect condition assumed during transport,since one end of the case 1G has been opened. When the ycase is sealed,the various flange portions 21-24 are almost vertical, i.e.,perpendicularly oriented relative to the associated support portion 16.

Through the use of an essentially rigid, yet flexible, construction ofthe plates 12, the upstanding edges as at 38 of the various plates 12develop a positive bearing support for the trays carried thereby.

In FIG. 9, it is seerifthat the arrangement of FIG. 4 is presentedexcept that the patties are triangular in shape, and hence thesupporting plates are likewise triangular, i.e., right triangles, so asto utilize the benefits of the invention, yet render it suitable for usein connection with marketing oleomargarine-see Public Law 459, Section409(c) (2).

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of anembodiment of the invention has been set` down for the purpose ofillustration, many variations in the details herein given may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1 claim:

1. A butter-pat package, comprising: a plurality of patcarrying plates,each equipped with a central support portion of generally rectangularoutline, an integral flat flange upstanding from each `side of saidrectangular outline, an embossed-top butter pat positioned on saidsupport portion a spaced distance away from each flange, with theflanges projecting upwardly above the pat, and a confining case urgingthe flanges of the plate into cooperative 'bearing relation with theflanges of adjacent plates, said case Ialso supporting the supportportions of said plates in generally coplanar relation, said flatflanges being constructed of resilient material whereby said flangestend to pivot outwardly when the aforesaid cooperative bearing Arelationceases.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said package includes a pluralityof generally rectangular trays, each equipped with integral perimetricflanges, each of said trays supporting a plurality of plates within saidcase in vertically-stacked relation whereby each tray serves a dualfuntion as a base for one group of plates and as a top for an adjacentgroup.

3. A butterapat package comprising: an outer case having the exteriorconfiguration of a rectangular solid and defining thereby 1a pair of endwalls of smaller area than the other walls of the case, means releasablyclosing at least one of said end walls, a plurality of trays ar rangedin vertically-stacked relation in said case remove :able through saidone end Wall when said one end wall is disposed vertically, each trayincluding a generally planar, rectangular support part disposedhorizont-ally :and four upstanding flat-flange parts integral with saidA.support part, each of said flange parts being defined by a line ofweakness in the tray associated therewith to pro vide said flange partwith resilience tending to pivot said flange part toward coplanarrelation with said support part, a plurality of generally square platessupported on each tray, each plate including a generally planar, squaresupport portion disposed horizontally and four upstanding flangeportions integral with said support portion, each of said flangeportions being defined by a line of weakness in the plate associatedtherewith to provide said flange portion with resilience tending topivot said flange portion toward coplanar relation with -said supportportion, and an embossed-top butter pat on and within the perimeter ofeach plate support portion, the flange portions of said platesprojecting above said pat to define with a tray above a protective cellfor the top surface of said pat and with the flange portions and partscooperating with the walls of said case to immobilize said trays andplates.

4. A butter-pat package, comprising an exterior case, a plurality oftrays vertically arranged within said case, a plurality of plates oneach tray horizontally arranged relative to each other, and ariembossed-top butter pat on each plate, each plate including a blank ofpaperboard conforming in general to the base shape of said butter pat,but dimensioned slightly larger than the base of the pat plus an amountslightly in excess of the thickness of the pat, said blank beingweakened along four outside edge lines to develop four manipulatableflat-flange portions extending beyond the periphery of the butter patcentered on the blank, said flange portions being flexible to standerect in cooperation and under equal pressure from flange portions ofadjacent plates, whereby the said plates cooperate with each other tomaintain the generally-erect flange portions erect in which the saidtray seiyes as a base for one grouped layer of butter-pat plates and asa non-touching cover for butter-pat plates of a grouped layerimmediately below whose erect flange portions support the tray on whichthe upper group rests, thereby completing a protective shippingconfinement for said butter pat and whereby said flanges will hingeoutwardly and downwardly when said plates are removed from said exteriorcase and in so doing will release said butter pat from said protectiveconfinement and expose it to easy access.

5. A butter-pat package, comprising a plurality of patcarrying plateseach equipped with a central support portion of generally rectangularoutline and an upstanding flat integral flange connected to each side ofthe rectangular outline, with the flanges projecting upwardly above thepat centered ori said support portion, a butter pat positioned on saidsupport portion a spaced distance away from each flange, said platebeing constructed of fibrous material whereby said flange portions aremanipulatable to a generally perpendicular position relative to saidsupport portions but possessing sufficient inherent resiliency to tendtoward return to pivot outwardly from said pat, said flanges beingdimensioned when in generally erect position to project above the topsurface of the pat, said pat having an embossed-top surface, and aconfining case urging the flanges on one plate into cooperative bearingrelation with the flanges of adjacent plates to define an essentiallyrigid cellular construction for shipment, yet which develops lareadilly-accessible serving when a plate is removed from said case.

6. In a method of butter-pat packaging, the steps of: forming aplurality of pat-supporting plates, each plate having a generally squaresupport portion and four flat integral flange portions, folding saidflange portions through an arc of more than to define an open-toppedcell wherein the flange portions possess sufficient resilience to tendtoward coplanar relation with said support portion, positioning anembossed-top butter pat on each support portion a spaced distance awayfrom each flange portion associated with said support portion, andassembling a plurality of said plates within a confining case in mutualflange portion contacting relation whereby the resiliency of said flangeportions causes them to cooperate among themselves and with said case todevelop bearings immobilizing each plate within said case.

7. The method of claim 6 in which said forming step is performed bycutting paperboard blanks.

8. The method of claim '7 in which said cutting step includessimultaneous scoring of said blanks to provide lines of weaknessdefining said flange portions.

9, The method of claim 7 in which said plates are subsequently removedfrom said confining case, whereby the resiliency of said flange portionscauses them to move outwardly and downwardly so as to expose said butterpat for easy access.

10. In a method of butter-pat packaging, the steps of die-cutting apaperboard blank to provide a plate having a generally square planarsupport portion and four perirnetric ilat-ange portions integral withsaid plate portion, and overfolding said llange portions through an arcof slightly in excess of 90 above the plane of said support portion,thereafter placing an embossed-topI butter pat in each plate andarranging a plurality of said plates with the flanges thereof incooperative bearing relation, said flanges tending to pivot outwardlywhen the aforesaid cooperative bearing relation ceases.

11. A butter-pat package, comprising: a plurality of pat-carryingplates, each equipped with a central support portion, an integral hatange upstanding from each side of said support portion, an embossed-topbutter pat positioned on said support portion a spaced distance awayfrom each flange, with the flanges projecting upwardly above the pat,and a confining case urging the flanges of one plate into cooperativebearing relation with the flanges of adjacent plates, said case alsosupporting the support portions of said plates in generally coplanarrelation, said flat flanges being constructed of resilient materialwhereby said lianges tend to pivot outwardly when the aforesaidcooperative bearing relation ceases.

12. A butter-pat package, comprising an exterior case, a plurality oftrays vertically arranged within said case, a plurality of plates oneach tray horizontally arranged relative to each other, and anembossed-top butter pat on each plate, each plate including a blank ofpaperboard conforming in general to the base shape of said butter pat,but dimensioned slightly larger than the base of the pat plus an amountslightly in excess of the thickness of the pat, said blank beingweakened along the outside edge lines to develop manipulata'ble at-angeportions extending beyond the periphery of the butter pat centered onthe blank, said flange portions being flexible to stand erect incooperation and under equal pressure from Iiange portions of adjacentplates, whereby the said plates cooperate with each other to maintainthe generally erect liange portions erect in which the said tray servesas a base for one grouped layer of butter-pat plates and as anon-touching cover for butter-pat plates of a grouped layer immediatelybelow whose erect ange portions support the tray on which the uppergroup rests, thereby completing a protective shipping connement for saidbutter pat and whereby said flanges will hin-ge outwardly and downwardlywhen said plates are removed from said exterior case and in so doingwill release said butter pat from said protective confinement and exposeit to easy access.

References Cited by the Examiner A. LOUIS MONACELL, Primary Exarrrinr.R. N. JONES, Examiner'.

11. A BUTTER-PAT PACKAGE, COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF PAT-CARRYINGPLATES, EACH EQUIPPED WITH A CENTRAL SUPPORT PORTION, AN INTEGRAL FLATFLANGE UPSTANDING FROM EACH SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT PORTION, ANEMBOSSED-TOP BUTTER PAT POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORT PORTION A SPACEDDISTANCE AWAY FROM EACH FLANGE, WITH THE FLANGES PROJECTING UPWARDLYABOVE THE PAT, AND A CONFINING CASE URGING THE FLANGES OF ONE PLATE INTOCOOPERATIVE BEARING RELATION WITH THE FLANGES OF ADJACENT PLATES, SAIDCASE ALSO SUPPORTING THE SUPPORT PORTIONS OF SAID PLATES IN GENERALLYCOPLANAR RELATION, SAID FLAT FLANGES BEING CONSTRUCTED OF RESILIENTMATERIAL WHEREBY SAID FLANGES TEND TO PIVOT OUTWARDLY WHEN THE AFORESAIDCOOPERATIVE BEARING RELATION CEASES.